A DOCTORS' surgery in Ferryhill had to be evacuated when toxic liquid leaked from a refrigerator.

The drama happened yesterday at the Ferryhill and Chilton Surgery, in Durham Road.

The treatment room refrigerator, which normally contains samples but was empty at the time, started leaking at about 1.15pm when there were only a few patients in the building.

Practice manager Jennifer Wood said: "It's a bit strong to say there was an explosion, but there was a bang which sounded like somebody had dropped a tray."

The evacuation procedure was implemented straight away and the fire brigade called to deal with the leakage of ammonia, which acts as a coolant.

Mrs Wood said: "Nobody could enter the building, but doctors and staff drove down to our Chilton medical centre and saw what patients they could there."

Firefighters from Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor attended the incident.

The building was reopened at 3pm.

Although the treatment room will be out of use until next week, the surgery is operating as normal.